A stranger’s arrival at a circus disrupts a world as delicately balanced as a tight-rope act. Lion tamers, bareback riders, and scam-artists alike fall under the mysterious spell of He Who Gets Slapped as He himself suffers the pangs of unrealizable love and the return of ghosts from his past. Almost forgotten and yet, once experienced, unforgettable, He Who Gets Slapped is a tragicomic masterpiece where philosophy meets physicality and the stirrings of laughter and longing come to a boil under the big top.

A note from the director

He Who Gets Slapped is a play about a circus, so you might be asking yourself, “Should I bring my children?” Here’s what I’d say to you: While He Who Gets Slapped has almost no profanity (I believe there’s a “damn” and a “hell” in there) and no obvious on-stage physical violence, it’s a dark story with some very adult themes. If it were a movie, it would probably be the upper side of PG-13. I would recommend the show for ages 13 and up. For mature, intelligent young people, the play offers a great deal to think and talk about — as with Shakespeare’s tragedies, there is betrayal, jealousy, and untimely death. There are also great moments of comedy, beautiful language, and fascinating, compelling characters and ideas. This isn’t a light comedy — we’re not talking Bozo the Clown and Ringling Brothers here — but it is a great play for mature audiences of many ages.

CAST

Papa Briquet, Circus Manager… Stewart Moneymaker
Zinaida, a lion tamer, his common-law wife… Yulia Klenova
Jackson, a famous clown… Dan Sterlace
Polly, a musical clown… Kate Tooley
Tilly, a musical clown… Will Luckett
Consuela, the Bareback Tango Queen… Emma Duncan
Count Mancini, Consuela’s father… John Holdren
Alfred Bezano, a bareback rider… Geoffrey Culbertson
Thomas, a roustabout… Austin Carpenter
Girl Performers… Ali Cheff, Elisabeth Burkhalter
A strongman… Javier Figueroa-Ray
An acrobat… Danny Wagner
Baron Regnard, a very rich man… Nick Heiderstadt
Gentlewoman, a stranger… Josephine Stewart
Gentleman, later known as “He Who Gets Slapped”… Richard Craig
A strongman’s understudy… Ken Ferguson


CREW

Director … Sara Holdren
Producers … Peppy Linden, Charlotte Drummond
Stage Manager … Scott Dunn
Set Design … Grady Smith
Costume Design … Tricia Emlet
Lighting Design … Heather Hutton
Sound Design … Peter Fish
Props Design … Melanie La Duca
Props & Set Dressing Assistant … Kerry Moran
Props Assistants … Nick Smith, Louis Schultz
Assistant Stage Manager … Natalie Dieter
Dramaturg … Kat Thompson
Aerial Silks Trainer … Sage Brodersen
Master Carpenter … James Harte
Assistant Lighting Designer … Erra Grant
Assistant Costume Designer … Nikita Pushkareva
Vocal Coach … David Becker
Light Board Technicians … Bob Button, Djamila Harouaka
Sound Board Technicians … Mary Hunter & Kathleen Mueller
Hair & Makeup Consultant … Virginia Glenn

Listen to director Sara Holdren on The Spark

There are always opportunities to help build sets, work on costumes, locate and fabricate props, and all the other sundry things that go into making each show spectacular. Drop by Tuesdays from 6pm – 10pm or Saturday from 10am – 2pm and we’ll put you to work! Can’t make it those days? Contact Tracie Skipper at 434-977-4177x107 or email tracie@livearts.org for specific volunteer opportunities.